A combination of microvalves and waveguides may enable the creation of reconfigurable on-chip light sources compatible with planar sample preparation and particle sensing architecture using either single-mode or multi-mode interference (MMI) waveguides. A first type of light source is a DFB laser source with lateral gratings created by the light valves. Moreover, feedback for creating a narrowband light source does not have to be a DFB grating in the active region. A DBR configuration (Bragg mirrors on one or both ends of the active region) or simple mirrors at the end of the cavity can also be used. Alternately, ring resonators may be created using a valve coupled to a bus waveguide where the active gain medium is either incorporated in the ring or inside an enclosed fluid. The active light source may be activated by moving a fluid trap and/or a solid-core optical component defining its active region.

An optical system element includes a first enclosure designed for receiving in circulation a functional fluid and at least one inlet and/or outlet window located on the first enclosure and through which a light beam can pass. The inlet and/or outlet window includes two viewports which delimit a spacer cavity adjacent to the first enclosure. The spacer cavity is designed to receive a second fluid with a predetermined optical index and is equipped with a device for adjusting the pressure therein. Degradation of a beam during its passage through the inlet and/or outlet window can be limited by careful selection of the optical index of the second fluid and the pressure in the spacer cavity.

An optical system element includes a first enclosure designed for receiving in circulation a functional fluid and at least one inlet and/or outlet window located on the first enclosure and through which a light beam can pass. The inlet and/or outlet window includes two viewports which delimit a spacer cavity adjacent to the first enclosure. The spacer cavity is designed to receive a second fluid with a predetermined optical index and is equipped with a device for adjusting the pressure therein. Degradation of a beam during its passage through the inlet and/or outlet window can be limited by careful selection of the optical index of the second fluid and the pressure in the spacer cavity.

A tube preparation step of preparing a resin tube that has a tube wall impregnable with a solution including a fine substance and is made of a light-transmitting resin material, a solution preparation step of preparing a solution that includes a fine fluorescent substance that emits fluorescence or a fine scattering substance that scatters light as an oscillation material and an impregnation step of causing the resin tube to be immersed in the solution and causing the tube wall of the resin tube to be impregnated with the oscillation material, are included.

A fingerprint sensor-compatible overlay material which uses anisotropic conductive material to enable accurate imaging of a fingerprint through an overlay is disclosed. The anisotropic conductive material has increased conductivity in a direction orthogonal to the fingerprint sensor, increasing the capacitive coupling of the fingerprint to the sensor surface, allowing the fingerprint sensor to accurately image the fingerprint through the overlay. Methods for forming a fingerprint sensor-compatible overlay are also disclosed.

Disclosed are photonic particles and methods of using particles in biological samples. The particles are configured to emit laser light when energetically stimulated by, e.g., a pump source. The particles may include a gain medium with inorganic materials, an optical cavity with high refractive index, and a coating with organic materials. The particles may be smaller than 3 microns along their longest axes. The particles may attach to each other to form, e.g., doublets and triplets. The particles may be injection-locked by coupling an injection beam into a particle while pumping so that an injection seed is amplified to develop into laser oscillation. A microscopy system may include a pump source, beam scanner, spectrometer with resolution of less than 1 nanometer and acquisition rate of more than 1 kilohertz, and spectral analyzer configured to distinguish spectral peaks of laser output from broadband background.

Disclosed are photonic particles and methods of using particles in biological samples. The particles are configured to emit laser light when energetically stimulated by, e.g., a pump source. The particles may include a gain medium with inorganic materials, an optical cavity with high refractive index, and a coating with organic materials. The particles may be smaller than 3 microns along their longest axes. The particles may attach to each other to form, e.g., doublets and triplets. The particles may be injection-locked by coupling an injection beam into a particle while pumping so that an injection seed is amplified to develop into laser oscillation. A microscopy system may include a pump source, beam scanner, spectrometer with resolution of less than 1 nanometer and acquisition rate of more than 1 kilohertz, and spectral analyzer configured to distinguish spectral peaks of laser output from broadband background.

A resonator is provided that includes opposing mirrors arranged substantially parallel to each other and separated to confine reflections for gain. A gain medium is between the opposing mirrors. A pump pumps the gain medium. At least one microrefractive element, or tens, hundreds, thousands, millions or more, stabilizes the resonator. The refractive element is disposed between the opposing mirrors and is configured to support a laser beam at a position of the refractive element. A method for producing laser light directs pump light onto one or a plurality of microrefractive elements. Reflections from the one or a plurality of microrefractive elements are confined in a resonator volume. Gain is provided in the resonator volume. Laser energy is emitted from the resonator volume.

A resonator is provided that includes opposing mirrors arranged substantially parallel to each other and separated to confine reflections for gain. A gain medium is between the opposing mirrors. A pump pumps the gain medium. At least one microrefractive element, or tens, hundreds, thousands, millions or more, stabilizes the resonator. The refractive element is disposed between the opposing mirrors and is configured to support a laser beam at a position of the refractive element. A method for producing laser light directs pump light onto one or a plurality of microrefractive elements. Reflections from the one or a plurality of microrefractive elements are confined in a resonator volume. Gain is provided in the resonator volume. Laser energy is emitted from the resonator volume.

Disclosed are photonic particles and methods of using particles in biological samples. The particles are configured to emit laser light when energetically stimulated by, e.g., a pump source. The particles may include a gain medium with inorganic materials, an optical cavity with high refractive index, and a coating with organic materials. The particles may be smaller than 3 microns along their longest axes. The particles may attach to each other to form, e.g., doublets and triplets. The particles may be injection-locked by coupling an injection beam into a particle while pumping so that an injection seed is amplified to develop into laser oscillation. A microscopy system may include a pump source, beam scanner, spectrometer with resolution of less than 1 nanometer and acquisition rate of more than 1 kilohertz, and spectral analyzer configured to distinguish spectral peaks of laser output from broadband background.